Sludge Metal

Desert Storm – Buried Under the Weight of Reason Review

Desert Storm – Buried Under the Weight of Reason Review

By Owlswald on March 5, 2026 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Rock, 27 comments

“For nearly two decades, Desert Storm has stood at the cornerstone of England’s fuzz-drenched underground. One can imagine my surprise, then, to find that I claim the first review of their catalog here. The group’s maturation has been a process of trial and error, evolving from smoky, blues-soaked stoner and southern rock roots into a heftier, sludgy, doom-infused form. Despite the unevenness of the Oxford outfit’s earlier efforts—Forked Tongues and Horizontal Life—Desert Storm’s more recent output (specifically Sentinels and Omens) found that sweet spot where sludge, doom, and stoner rock collide.” Sand, storms, sludge.

Sleeping Giant – The Beauty of Obliteration Review

Sleeping Giant – The Beauty of Obliteration Review

By Creeping Ivy on February 20, 2026 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 22 comments

“”Sleeping Giant” was always a standout song for me on Mastodon’s Blood Mountain. After two thrashy, pummeling tracks, “Sleeping Giant” slows the pace and ups the atmosphere, doling out chunky riffs and creepy leads. Its name aptly captures its role on Blood Mountain, feeling like the stirrings of an album (and a band) with gigantic aspirations. Speaking of slow risers, Iceland’s Sleeping Giant has finally roused for their first LP after forming in 2006.” Giant-sized shoes to fill.

Agenbite Misery – Remorse of Conscience Review

Agenbite Misery – Remorse of Conscience Review

By Andy-War-Hall on February 5, 2026 in Reviews, Black Metal, Noise Rock, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 65 comments

“Anyone who’s brushed against James Joyce’s modernist classic Ulysses has almost certainly encountered the phrase “remorse of conscience” before. A pivotal theme of the novel, remorse of conscience refers to more than mere guilt over a perceived ethical failure but the misery inflicted by it, its weight and torment. In the days leading up to receiving Remorse of Conscience, the independent debut from New Hampshire’s genre-blending Agenbite Misery, a record informed by Ulysses and “steeped in grief, alienation and the search for meaning in modern life,” I was experiencing that eponymous turmoil myself.” Modern Hellenic disorientation.

Tarlung – Axis Mundi Review

Tarlung – Axis Mundi Review

By Tyme on February 5, 2026 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 22 comments

“Vienna, Austria’s Tarlung has been coughing up thick clouds of resinous doom and smoky sludge since 2013, when, after just six months in existence and having never performed live, they released their eponymous debut album. Now, with two additional full-lengths—2017’s Beyond the Black Pyramid and 2021’s Architect—and some healthy touring under their belts, Tarlung braces to bring their fourth album in nearly five years, Axis Mundi, to the masses.” Coughing up the goods.

Under – What Happened In Roundwood Review

Under – What Happened In Roundwood Review

By Samguineous Maximus on January 29, 2026 in Reviews, Experimental Metal, Noise Rock, Sludge Metal, 20 comments

“There’s something tantalizing about the brand of metal-adjacent noise rock that’s experienced a renaissance in recent years. It’s ugly, it’s loud, and it doesn’t give a damn if you’re comfortable. You’ve got breakout stars Chat Pile dragging nü-metal’s bloated corpse through the mud, Couch Slut dishing out dissonant, riff-heavy nightmare fuel, and Intercourse sounding like a feral animal tearing flesh for fun. This isn’t “revival” music; it’s bands weaponizing noise, smashing metal’s brute force into punk’s emotional hemorrhaging, and then deliberately breaking whatever’s left just to see it scream. Enter the UK’s Under, stepping into this mess with zero interest in playing nice.” Under the thunder.

Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer Review

Doubtsower – The Past Melts Away with a Sneer Review

By ClarkKent on November 29, 2025 in Reviews, Avant-Garde, Doom Metal, Experimental Metal, Funeral Doom, Industrial Metal, Sludge Metal, 12 comments

“It’s amazing how quickly November, and my month of doom, has flown by. It seems the constant exposure to slow-paced music has made the days move faster, not slower. For my final November doom promo, what could be more appropriate than one described as “one long song funeral doom?” While the Welsh doom band containing this descriptor, Doubtsower, is new to me, the man behind the project, Matt Strangis, has three previous releases dating back to 2021.” Doubt is a doom killer.

Vandampire – Hope Scars Review

Vandampire – Hope Scars Review

By Spicie Forrest on November 15, 2025 in Reviews, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 21 comments

“Post- historically implies an evolution of or successor to a previous idea (modernism, rock, structuralism, punk, hardcore, colonialism, etc.). While a little nebulous, post-metal more or less riffs on the post-rock blueprint. It utilizes metal’s intense, abrasive instrumentation to create an emotional vulnerability that even the best power ballads fail to capture. There is a tenderness in its crushing weight, a sense of freedom and catharsis in its restraint. It is this corner of the metalverse that South West England-based Vandampire inhabits.” Post-hope.

Conjurer – Unself Review

Conjurer – Unself Review

By Dear Hollow on October 30, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Death Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge Metal, 17 comments

“I’m beginning to think Mire was a fluke. I’m not saying that as a bad thing, but I remember listening to Conjurer’s debut and thinking that it was a top post-metal album steeped in atmosphere and enigma, tied together with vicious vocals and vindictive weight. So then, I was immensely let down by follow-up Páthos because it seemed to shed substance for novelty: if I’m being honest, its stark dichotomy of heartwrenching melodies and kickass riffs felt inauthentic and shoehorned. Thus, I approached Unself carefully, hoping for something like Mire but tentatively expecting Páthos.” Tricks and treats.

The Acacia Strain – You Are Safe From God Here Review

The Acacia Strain – You Are Safe From God Here Review

By Dear Hollow on October 28, 2025 in Reviews, Deathcore, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Sludge Metal, 34 comments

“I can pinpoint the moment The Acacia Strain went from the poor man’s Meshuggah to “existential” deathcore – seemingly without changing much. It all occurred with 2014’s Coma Witch, which as a whole, was that traditional hardcore-infused deathcore beatdown you would have expected from predecessors Wormwood or Continent. But then the closing track did something a little different – “Observer” showed an ambitious, albeit imperfect, twenty-seven-minute track full of the band’s signature breakdowns and misanthropy – but put together with a distinctive ambiance and strong transitions.” New strain or merely straining?